Comfort and efficiency-based improvements to the control of residential Venetian blinds

This study focuses on the control of movable Venetian blinds. Multiple improvements to an existing on/off open-loop control strategy in a case-study apartment have been simulated in TRNSYS 18, thanks to the detailed optical and thermal modelling allowed by the Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Function (BSDF) used as input to the Type56_CFS. The control strategy improvements include the combination of rule-based, closed-loop and discrete state control, in addition to four control strategy activation methods (three use a schedule, and one measures the external temperature). Simulated control inputs include internal temperature, external temperature and vertical irradiance. The results show reductions in overheating, achieved without completely blocking natural illumination or compromising heating demand. While on/off control in winter often leads to increased heating energy consumption, the space sees regular overheating when on/off control is inactive over winter. Conversely, discrete state control is able to more precisely control solar gains in winter to maintain an adequate temperature without utilising the heating system, all the while allowing some level of natural illumination. Ultimately, it is concluded that the choice of the control strategy depends on which objective (minimisation of heating energy consumption, maximisation of daylight harvesting, reduction of overheating risk, etc.) is prioritised.

Implementation of sun-protection devices in industrial buildings with roof system of natural illumination in regions with hot and sunny climatic conditions

The article describes main objects of sun-protection devices implementation in premises of industrial buildings. The study deals with the above mentioned elements, used for buildings with roof system of natural lighting, located in regions with hot and sunny climate. The use of sun-protection in such an outdoor conditions is widely known, but in most cases their implementation is connected with civil buildings. Different structures of roof lighting system are being considered in the article under two main criteria: a sun-protection quality and quantity of natural light, penetrated into the interiors. The conclusion was maid, that the best type of natural lights structures are monitors, equipped with canopies. These are the best in general, with respect not only to insolation limitation and natural

The assessment of light pollution in the city of Kyiv

The analysis of environmental issues raised by the excessive artificial illumination in the selected areas of the central districts of Kyiv was conducted. The level of light pollution was measured using photometric equipment and compared to the levels of natural illumination. The instrumental measurements were amended with visual observation of sky glow levels and subjective perception of sunset timing. Based on the obtained results the possible health effects for the residents of affected districts were considered.

The Relationship of Natural Illumination With Pneumonia Cases Among Babies And Under-Five Children In The Area of South Denpasar II Primary Health Centre

Pneumonia merupakan salah satu penyebab kematian balita di dunia. Oleh karena itu kasus pneumonia merupakan masalah kesehatan dunia. Di Puskesmas II Denpasar Selatan, kasus pneumonia balita tahun 2010 meningkat dua kali dibandingkan tahun sebelumnya. Kondisi wilayah kerja Puskesmas II Denpasar Selatan yang cukup padat bangunan berpengaruh terhadap intensitas pencahayaan alami. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan pencahayaan alami terhadap kejadian pneumonia pada bayi dan anak balita di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas II Denpasar Selatan. Sampel penelitian ini adalah 30 bayi atau anak balita yang terdiagnosa pneumonia sebagai sampel kasus dan 30 orang bayi atau anak balita yang tidak terdiagnosa pneumonia yang disesuaikan dengan umur serta jenis kelaminnya. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara dengan kuesioner dan pengukuran kemudian dianalisis secara deskriptif dan Mc Nemar dengan tingkat kemaknaan 5%. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan ada hubungan bermakna antara pencahayaan alami ruang tidur (OR = 16, p = 0,00, CI 95% = 2,13–120,47) dan kepadatan hunian (OR = 13, p = 0,002, CI 95 %= 1,69–99,8) terhadap kejadian pneumonia pada bayi dan anak balita. Disarankan kepada orang tua untuk meningkatkan prilaku sehat dengan membiasakan masuknya cahaya matahari pagi dan kesadaran akan tempat tinggal yang sehat. Bagi petugas kesehatan disarankan untuk dilakukan promosi kesehatan yang berkaitan dengan faktor risiko serta cara pencegahan pneumonia.

Scaling and discriminability of perceived gloss

While much attention has been given to understanding biases in gloss perception (e.g., changes in perceived reflectance as a function of lighting, shape, viewpoint and other factors), here we investigated sensitivity to changes in surface reflectance. We tested how visual sensitivity to differences in specular reflectance varies as a function of the magnitude of specular reflectance. Stimuli consisted of renderings of glossy objects under natural illumination. Using Maximum Likelihood Difference Scaling, we created a perceptual scaling of the specular reflectance parameter of the Ward reflectance model. Then, using the Method of Constant Stimuli and a standard 2AFC procedure, we obtained psychometric functions for gloss discrimination across a range of reflectance values derived from the perceptual scale. Both methods demonstrate that discriminability is significantly diminished at high levels of specular reflectance, suggesting that gloss sensitivity depends on the magnitude of change in the image produced by different reflectance values.